RV water programs provide potable water to numerous fixtures – kitchen and toilet sinks, bogs, indoor and outside showers, and so forth. On this article, we’ll give attention to the design and performance of your RV’s water distribution system and supply suggestions for utilizing and sustaining it correctly.
How Do RV Water Techniques Work?
Most RV water programs can function as self-contained programs – that means you draw from a tank of potable water on board. This tank is normally known as your freshwater holding tank. This should be sanitized repeatedly to make sure secure water for ingesting, dishes, and extra.
Potable: (adj.) secure to drink
Your RV water system pumps water all through your coach utilizing a water pump – a tool that pressurizes the plumbing traces to drive water from the freshwater tank out by your taps, fixtures, and scorching water heater. The water heater should be turned on to warmth water, which the pump distributes to scorching water traces.
Your RV water system additionally heats and distributes water to fixtures when linked to a metropolis water supply. A examine valve in your water pump prevents your contemporary water tank from filling when linked to metropolis water. One other examine valve on the metropolis water inlet prevents water from flowing backward out of the inlet when the pump is working.
Metropolis water: (n.) a municipal water provide. Within the case of RV parks, it may possibly generally confer with water pulled from a neighborhood nicely and distributed through underground mains to campsite spigots.
RV Water System RV Plumbing Diagram
Right here’s a fast diagram of the essential design of RV water programs:
Disclaimer: This common diagram will not be 100% correct for all RVs. Seek the advice of your proprietor’s handbook or contact your RV producer for an up-to-date diagram of your RV’s water system.
RV Water System Parts
Listed below are the assorted elements you’ll discover in most RV water distribution programs:
Strain Regulator
Most RVs require the usage of an exterior strain regulator put in on the spigot if you happen to’re connecting to metropolis water. Nonetheless, some items have a built-in regulator on the metropolis water connection on the RV’s exterior wall. Most regulators even have backflow preventers and strainers to maintain particles out of your RV’s water system.
Exterior and built-in fashions defend your water pump and system elements from injury that may be brought on by unregulated metropolis water strain. Metropolis water hookups can have pressures at excessive as 150 PSI (kilos per sq. inch). A strain regulator reduces that strain to an appropriate degree to your RV – normally between 40 and 50 PSI.
Be taught extra about why you want a water strain regulator to your RV.
RV Water Filter Techniques
Some RVs are outfitted with a water filter constructed into the distribution system. Others require putting in an exterior water filter on the spigot (however after a strain regulator, if relevant).
Onboard filtration programs are usually put in in an beneath compartment or below the kitchen sink. They’re normally cartridge-style filters that take away impurities that have an effect on the incoming water’s texture and style.
Onboard and exterior water filters should be changed repeatedly in response to the producer’s suggestion. Water high quality requirements differ dramatically from area to area and campground to campground, so some water filtration mechanism is significant to secure RV adventures.
Be taught extra about getting clear ingesting water in your RV.
Potable Water Tank (Contemporary Water Tank)
Potable water tanks are sometimes manufactured from polyethylene or an identical plastic materials. The variety of gallons of water these tanks maintain relies on the make and mannequin, in addition to generally based mostly on provide chain availability.
Most RVs have a everlasting contemporary water tank constructed into the RV in manufacturing, however some have a small, detachable tank. Everlasting RV potable water tanks are stuffed through a labeled fill port on most RVs’ off-camp aspect – reverse the primary entry door.
In-line Strainer
Most trendy water pumps embody a built-in strainer, however older RVs might have a separate in-line strainer put in between the water tank and the pump. These inline filters are easy screens that gather dust, sand, and different particles earlier than they will injury your water pump, examine valves, vacuum breakers, and taps. They don’t filter the identical impurities as a water filter.
Water Pump
RV water programs distribute water in three foremost methods: by a requirement strain system, a metropolis water strain system, or a handbook pump system.
A demand strain system makes use of a water pump powered by a small 12-volt motor. Most RV water pumps strain to a variety of 40-50 PSI. An inner strain change turns the pump off when the set strain is reached.
Most water pumps are additionally outfitted with a strainer and examine valve. The strainer removes massive sediments that might injury the pump. The examine valve prevents water from flowing backward by the pump into your potable water tank when linked to metropolis water.
A metropolis water strain system depends on the strain provided by a potable water supply from a spigot. It requires a water strain regulator to lower strain to a secure degree for RV plumbing.
A handbook pump system makes use of a foot or hand-operated pump to pressurize the system and distribute water from the tank to the fixtures.
Technician Tip: There was a fourth methodology for water distribution – air strain. This methodology utilized an onboard air compressor to pressurize the system rather than a water pump. Nevertheless it was extra widespread on older RVs and is rarer to search out now. Do you have to come throughout a pneumatic system, turn into absolutely educated within the use and upkeep of the system earlier than use.
These programs will include a really excessive quantity of strain, and extreme damage can happen if excessive warning is just not exercised. Additionally, the compressor should be meals grade and sure oilless. Utilizing the improper compressor or sustaining it incorrectly can contaminate the potable water system.
Most RV contemporary water distribution programs are designed to make the most of two potential provide sources – demand pump (through your moveable water tank) and metropolis water are the commonest.
Shut-Off Valve
The shut-off valve in an RV water system retains water within the tank if repairs are required in different components of the distribution system. Closing the valve permits for repairs with out draining the tank.
Piping/Tubing
Based on NFPA 1192, the piping that transports water from that tank to your fixtures should be rated to be used with potable water. Pipes and tubes transporting scorching water should even be rated for decent water use.
The commonest piping materials utilized in immediately’s RVs is CPVC or polyethylene cross-link tubing (PEX). Different widespread supplies embody PVC and polybutylene. The supplies should be rated for cold and hot installations, and the necessities for materials, kind, measurement, set up, and assist are all outlined in NFPA 1192.
Water distribution piping is commonly crimson or blue however could also be clear or opaque. RVs with crimson and blue piping make figuring out cold and hot water traces simpler, however extra testing is required to find out if the traces are scorching or chilly for fashions with clear or opaque piping.
Accumulator
An accumulator tank is generally discovered on higher-end items however will be added to any unit by an expert RV technician. It’s a small water storage tank (normally manufactured from ABS plastic or metallic) that’s positioned downstream from the water pump to assist preserve constant water strain, cut back water sputtering, and decrease the biking of the water pump.
Internally, an accumulator is split into two halves, separated by a rubber membrane. The consumer will pressurize half of the accumulator by including compressed air by a Schrader valve, usually to 30 PSI. The water system will add pressurized water to the opposite half.
When there isn’t any demand on the system, the strain is saved contained in the tank and might be instantly launched when a fixture or valve is opened. This gives speedy high-pressure water move immediately. The water system then retains the water flowing.
If the water pump is getting used, the accumulator will soak up the pulsations brought on by the pumping motion. This gives a smoother, extra city-water-like expertise. The air strain is adjustable to fine-tune the efficiency to the consumer’s desire.
Water Heater
RV water heaters provide scorching water to your fixtures and run on 120-volt AC energy, propane, or each. Many RV water heaters immediately are referred to as DSI (direct spark ignition) water heaters. Which means there’s no pilot gentle to be lit manually earlier than every use.
Water heaters that use propane should be listed for RV use as a result of they should be designed and examined for the added vibrations and bouncing that include the RV way of life. You’ll additionally see ‘on-demand’ or ‘tankless’ water heaters in lots of new RVs.
Sure water heater installations might also embody a bypass equipment for simpler winterization. This equipment eliminates the necessity to fill the water heater with antifreeze to guard the tank and your scorching water traces from freezing temperatures. Bypass kits can embody 1-3 handbook shut-off valves.
Technician Tip: Winterization shut-off valves ought to NOT be closed when winterizing a tankless, on-demand, or hydronic (boiler) water heater, as they MUST be shielded from freezing by displacing all water with RV antifreeze.
Fixtures
Most RVs are outfitted with the next widespread fixtures: tubs, bogs, indoor and outside showers, and kitchen and toilet sinks. These fixtures are the ultimate component in your RV’s water distribution system earlier than the water enters your RV’s plumbing system for waste assortment.
Accredited RV fixtures should be listed and put in by the phrases of that itemizing, akin to these stipulated by the Nationwide Sanitary Basis (NSF) and the Worldwide Affiliation of Plumbing and Mechanical Officers (IAPMO).
Low-Level Drains
The low-point drains in an RV water system mean you can drain the system utilizing gravity. Nonetheless, the potential for low spots within the distribution system requires blowing out the traces utilizing an air compressor or filling them with RV antifreeze when winterizing your RV.
Technician Tip: As a result of potential for freeze injury, there isn’t any guarantee at Tenting World for the Primary Winterize Bundle (blowing traces out with compressed air). The Full Winterize bundle consists of blowing the traces out with compressed air and filling the traces with RV antifreeze, which carries Tenting World’s normal guarantee.
Contact a Tenting World Service Middle to be taught extra about RV winterization providers.
The way to Preserve Your RV Water System
Now that you simply perceive the essential operation of RV water programs, listed below are some suggestions that can assist you maintain yours working easily and effectively:
When you know the way it features, something is less complicated to work on or troubleshoot. Hopefully, you now have a greater understanding of RV water programs. Nonetheless, you possibly can at all times contact an RV service advisor at your native Tenting World Service Middle if you happen to want help.
Do you will have any questions on RV water programs? Tell us within the feedback beneath.
Tucker Ballister is our Technical Content material Author. He’s a lover of the open street and the proud proprietor of a 2021 Sunlite Basic journey trailer (his third RV to this point). Try extra of his RV adventures, gear opinions, and outside recommendation at thebackpackguide.com.